Improvement in sewing-machine tables



1 "L mm w m N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASNINGTOXL D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

JOSEPH BENNOR, OF aPHILADELIHIA, PA., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, -J OHN N. MCLEAN, AND SAMUEL CRAWFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,335, dated December 20, 1870.v

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BENNOR, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer- `tain Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of

whichv the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists in the following: First, in a novel manner of constructiu g and bracing the frame of the stand or table; second, in an improved manner of securing the top of' the table to the `frame or stand and, third, in hinges of novel construction for attaching the machine and its cover to the table-top.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a front elevation of my improved stand or table with the machine-cover thereon. Fig. 2 is a `perspective View of the parts `of the frame in position to be tted together. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the 'table-top with the cover thereon, showing the hinges of the latter. Fig. 4 isa cross-section of the table-top and the bed-plate of the machine, showing the hinges ot' the bed. Fig. 5 is a view of one of the hinges detached.

My stand or table I construct in the same general manner as those now in common usethat is to say, of two legs or end pieces connectedby cross bars or braces, and provided with a board or top on their upper ends.

A A represent the legs of my table, which may be made of any form, shape, or configuration desired, provided only that they shall have three cross-bars, a, b, and c, located respectively at or near the top, middle, and foot, as shown in Fig. 2. On the outside of each bar a I form a recess, d in the upper side of each bar b a groove, e; and through each bar o a horizontal hole, f, as shown in Fig. 2.

I also construct a frame or brace, B, having four arms, g g and 'h h, the former having each a hook, z', at the end, and the latter having each a tongue, j, at the end, as shown in Figs. l and 2. This frame or brace I make of the length of the required table, and ot' such form that the arms g hat each end are the same distance apart as the bars a b of each leg A.

I also provide a rod, C, a little longer than brace B, and form a screw-thread on each end, and screw nuts k thereon, as shown in Figs. l

To fasten the frame together I take the brace B and one of the legs A, and pass one of the arms h of the former through from the inside of the leg, and hook its end i intothe notch d on the outside of the-top bar ,and then insert the tongue j of the corresponding arm h into the recess e of the middle cross-bar b, as shown in Fig. 2. I then apply the remaining leg to the opposite end of the brace in a like manner, and then insert the ends of the rod C through the holes f in the lower cross-bar o,

and screw nuts l onto the ends ot the rod outside of the legs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the nuts Z on the ends of rod C are tightened up against the outside of the legs the ends of arms h serve as fulcrums for the legs, and the upper ends of the latter are pressed firmly against the hooks z', and thus the whole frame is held stron gly and rigidly together.

To prevent the legs A from becoming turned or twisted out of position, the ends of arms h, which bear against the inner sides of the legs, are widened laterally, so as to have a broad bearing-face, as shown in Fig. 2.

After tightening up the nutsl as required, I set the nuts k up firmly against the inner sides of the legs, so as to aid in rendering the frame stift' and rigid.

On the top of each leg A I form two or more studs, m, having a slight inclination outward, and in the table-top D I make corresponding holes to receive the studs, which are inserted therein when putting the frame together, before applying the rod C.

When the frame is thus secured together, and the studs inserted into the holes in the top, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the latter is held securely and rmly in place, so that it cannot warp or rattle.

Instead of the studs m for holding the top D in place, the legs may be provided with slotted ears a on the innerside, and screws be passed through them into the top.

By forming the ears with slots I am enabled to take the frame apart and put it together without the trouble and delay of removing or inserting' the screws each time, a dit'liculty which is also obviated when the studs m are used, as described.

It is obvious that the brace B may be placed to one side of the middle, or its form varied,

as the position of Jthe crank-shaft in different machines may render necessary.

By this method of construction I am enabled to produce a very cheap, strong, and ornamental frame, which can be easily and quickly taken apart and put together, and the top of which is so fastened that it cannot warp, rattle, or work loose.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views representing respectively the hinges for the machine proper and for the cover, the two pair being constructed in substantially the same manner, but modified to adapt them for their different purposes.

The objects of the hinges of the machine or bed-plate are to hold or support the bed-plate when turned upright, and to permit the ready detachment of the machine from the table 5 and the objects of the hinges for the cover are to permit it to be turned over back of the table-top out of the way, and thus to obviate the necessity of detaching the cover every time the machine is used, and at the same time to permit it to be disconnected when necessary.

The hinges of the bed-plate, of which there are two, consist each of a lug, s, on the under side of the bed-plate, near the rear edge, having a rod or stem, t, pivoted to it. A vertical hole is bored into the table-top to receive each of these stems, which fit therein, as shown in Fig. 4,so as to hold the bed-plate irmly in place when turned down upon the table-top.

When the front of the bed-plate is turned up, its rear edge bears on the table-top and the lugs draw the stemstupward, so that when the bed-plate is carried a little past a vertical position its lower edge bears against the stems, and it is thus supported in an upright position vand prevented from falling back upon and bruising the table. When in this position the parts on the under side oi' the bed-plate can be examined and adj usted with great convenience. The hinges of the cover each consist of an arm, s, attached rigidly to the lower rear edge of the top F, and extending back half-way to the rear edge of the table-top D, and pivoted to the upper ends of inclined stems or rods t, which are inserted into holes in the top, as shown in Fig. 3.

By this arrangement the cover when turned back is carried beyond the rear edge of the table-top, outof the way of the operator, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The stems are inclined, as shown, so that when the cover is turned back its weight will not withdraw them from their holes or sockets in the top.

The stems t are each provided with an enlargement or'flange at the upper end, to pre vent them from slipping down through and being followed by the arms s when the top is being turned up. The same object may be accolnplished by boring the holes for the stems only part way through the top.

The cover may be detached, when desired, by lifting. up the top so as to withdraw the stems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of the legs or frames A, the locking and bracing bar B, and rod C, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. The legs A, provided with the inclined studs m, in combination with the table-top, having correspondingly-inclined holes, whereby the table-top is secured to the legs without the use of screws, substantially as described.

3. The detachable hinge, consisting of the stem t jointed to the lug or arm s, and applied to sewin g-machines or their covers,as described. n

JOSEPH BENNOR.

Vitnesses:

WV. W. DOUGHERTY, CHARLES BRooME. 

